Collar shaping and pressing machine



April 9, 1955 s. R. FRANKEL 2,706,587

COLLAR SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1952 4 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

SAMUEL R .FRHNKEL yuwk April 19, 1955 s. R. FRANKEL.

COLLAR SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1952 INVENTOR.

smwEL R-FRH arm HTTORIUEV April 19, 1955 s. R. FRANKEL COLLAR SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 17, 1952 INVEN'TOR. Samuel. R. F'RPINKEk Q T TOR/HEY April 19, 1955 s. R. FRANKEL 2,706,537

COLLAR SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m... "WW -MM) I INVENTOR. SRMOEL. H. FRRHKEL United States Patent COLLAR SHAPING AND PRESSING MACHINE Samuel R. Frankel, Reading, Pa., assignor to American Safety Table Company, Inc., Reading, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 17, 1952, Serial No. 266,843

4 Claims. (Cl. 223-2) This invention relates generally to apparatus for shaping and pressing to form a portion of an article of wearing apparel, such as collars, cufis and lapels, manufactured of several plies of fabric and required to have sharply defined edges, and is more particularly concerned with an improved, simplified construction thereof affording particular advantage as to the cost of producing such a machine and the manner of operating it.

This invention constitutes an improvement to the collar pressing apparatus disclosed in co-pendmg application of Max T. Voigt for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 167,208, filed June 9, 1950, now Patent #2,619,267. The commercial forms of the general type of machine with which applicant is concerned are commonly provided with three foot pedals wh1ch the operator uses in succession, the first one to bring pointed members together to enable the operator to turn the collar and to pull it over the die or shaping member, the second one to position the die member with the collar on it under the presser member, from which position the die member is automatically retracted, leaving the collar under the presser member, and the third one to move the presser member to pressing position for applying heat and pressure to the collar. Operation of the second pedal is inconvenient for the operator because at least one foot is already occupied in operating the first pedal. Operation of the third pedal is most exacting upon the operator, as will be readily understood, and to relieve him of the responsibility for such operation, apparatus has been developed for automatically moving the presser member to pressing position for applying heat and pressure to the collar. However, known means for affording the aforementioned relief have not proved entirely satisfactory because they are unduly complicated.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide simplified means for making the operation heretofore performed by the aforementioned third pedal wholly automatic, thus relieving the operator of the responsibility for its operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mach ne of the type with which applicant is concerned having only one foot pedal to be actuated by the operators feet.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully described hereinafter, as is shown in the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a collar turning and shaping machine constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing an article under the presser member, the die member still engaged with the article,

and the presser member in pressing position;

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 but shows the die member withdrawn from the article;

Figure 5 is similar to Figure 3 but shows the presser member in non-pressing position and the article withdrawn from under the presser member; and

Figure 6 is a partial rear view on line 66 of Figure 2, part being broken away and part being shown diagrammatically for the sake of clarity.

2,706,587 Patented Apr. 19, 1955 Reference is made to the above-mentioned copending application for the description and operation of all parts not specifically described herein.

Referring now to the drawings and, first, more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, it will be observed that in the apparatus of the present invention the several operating mechanisms thereof are suitably mounted on and supported by a floor-supported table having a forwardly and downwardly sloping top 10 suitably mounted upon a plurality of vertically extending legs 11. The table top is fitted with a pair of suitably located electrical heating units (not shown) designed to supply heat at a predetermined maximum temperature at conveniently located points on the table, each unit being individually supplied with operating current through independent thermostatically controlled units 12, 12 and 13.

Suitably mounted upon the table top 10 is a base plate 14 of generally trapezoidal form having a relatively wide opening in its basal edge forming a pair of relatively divergent portions 16-16. Suitably fixedly secured to the base plate 14 and disposed on the top thereof are a plate 17 in the form of triangular block and a pair of elongated plate members 18-18 relatively disposed to conjointly form on either side of the triangular block 17 a pair of recesses 19-19 (see Figures 4 and 5) each of generally triangular form and of uniform depth, each recess being bound upon only two of its sides to provide a relatively wide entrance opening at the forward end of the base plate 14.

Superimposed upon the base plate 14 and forming therewith a pressing head are a pair of presser members or pressing shoes 22-22, the inner ends of which are adapted to be respectively fitted snugly in the recesses 19-19 to overlie the full areas thereof and to exert a shaping pressure on any article which may be inserted into the recesses 19-19 beneath the shoes 21-21. Preferably, the shoes 21-21 are each provided with an extended portion 22.

Suitable means are provided for exerting pressure on each shoe 21. It will be observed that the base plate 14 is fitted with a transversely extending rocker shaft 23, the opposite ends of which are suitably journalled in end bearing blocks 2424 suitably bolted to the base plate 14. Fixed upon the rocker shaft 23 is a yoke-shaped member 20 having a rearwardly and downwardly curved arm 26 and a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending short arms 27-27. The latter have their forward inner ends interconnected by a transversely extending rod 28 with the opposite ends of said rod nonrotatably fixed therein.

oscillatably mounted upon the transversely extending rod 28 are a pair of laterally spaced brackets 29-29, the latter being fixedly secured, respectively, to the inner pointed end portions of the shoes 21-21. It will be apparent that upon rotation of yoke 20 about the axis of rocker shaft 23 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, the transversely extending rod 28 will be depressed, in consequence of which, pressure is applied to the inner pointed ends of the shoes 21-21 through the intervention of the brackets 29-29. Corresponding downward pressure upon the outer ends of the extended portions 22-22 of the shoes is applied by auxiliary means rendered effective by the yoke 20 simultaneously as the latter causes the pressure to be applied to the inner pointed ends of the shoes 21-21. The auxiliary means includes a pair of members 31-31 oscillatably mounted on rocker shaft 23, each member 31 being provided with a forwardly extending arm 32 the outer end of which is adapted to bear upon the extended portion 22 of the underlying shoe 21.

The arm 26 of the yoke 20 is preferably connected to a suitably fixed point on the machine by a coiled tension spring 25, the function of this spring being to normally hold the yoke 20 in position to relieve the shoes 21-21 of any pressure thereon. For rocking the yoke 20 about the axis of shaft 23 in order to move shoes 21-21 from nonpressing to pressing position there is provided a lengthwise adjustable link in the form of a turnbuckle 33 having its upper end pivotably connected, as at 34, to the free end portion of the curved arm 26 of the yoke 20. The turnbuckle 33 extends rearwardly and downwardly from the aforementioned connection through an opening 35 in table top 10, and the free lower end thereof is suitably pivotably connected to a swivel block 36 journalled upon a pin 36 projecting from one end of a lever 37. This lever 37 is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 38, upon a rigid bracket 39 which is suitably secured, as by bolts 41, to a rearwardly and downwardly inclined back plate 42 forming a part of the floor-supported table. The lever 37 is disposed to one side of the turnbuckle link 33 and extends tranversely relative thereto for oscillation in a rearwardly and downwardly extending plane disposed normal to the axis of the pivot 38. The swivel block connection of the turnbuckle link to the lever 37 provides a form of universal joint which permits the link to shift as required upon oscillation of its actuating lever 37.

The free end portion of the lever 37 is pivotally connected, as at 38*, to one end portion of a plunger 43 of an electro-magnetic solenoid unit 44 which is rigidly secured to the inclined back plate 42 by means of a supporting bracket 46 fixed to the plate, as by bolts 47. The plunger 43 is thereby disposed in substantial coplanar relation to the lever 37 for shifting movement in the plane of oscillation of the latter.

The electro-magnetic solenoid unit 44 is suitably included in electric circuit with an automatic electrical timer relay 48 and a microswitch 49, as shown in Figure 6. The timer 48 is supported on a plate bracket 51 secured, as by bolts 52, to a plate 53 forming a part of the floor supported table. The automatic electrical timer relays 48 is of that type well known in the art which operates, when its electrical control circuit is closed by the switch 49, to energize the solenoid unit 44 and delay deenergization thereof for a predetermined period of time. The time delay for deenergization of the solenoid is fixed by proper setting of the timer relay which automatically deenergizes the solenoid at the end of the fixed time period. Suitable timer relays for the purpose are those manufactured by Automatic Temperature Control under United States Letters Patent Nos. 2,175,864 and 2,175,865 of October 10, 1939 and by General Control Company under United States Letters Patent No. 2,296,580 of September 22, 1942. Of course, any other suitable timer relay may be employed. The switch 49 is suitably secured to the floor-supported table preferably beneath the table top with its actuating button 54 presenting forwardly and downwardly for actuation by means to be described hereinafter.

For positioning the pointed ends of the collars to be pressed within the triangular recesses 19-19 between the base plate 14 and the shoes 21-21, the apparatus is provided with a pair of die members or blades 56 arranged in coplanar relation and shiftable in their plane for positionment in overlying relation to the recesses 19-19. These die blades 5656 are suitably secured, as by bolts 57, upon a movable carriage 58. The carriage 58 is supported upon a plurality of roller Wheels 59 which are adapted to ride upon a suitable track 61 carried by the table top 10, the carriage being guided for rectilinear shifting movement lengthwise of the table by a part of the carriage which rides in a longitudinal slot 62 formed in the table top 10. A coiled tension spring 63 connects the carriage 58 with a fixed point 64 on the apparatus, this spring being operative to return the carriage 58 and the die blades supported thereby to a retracted position at the front of the apparatus. The die blades 5656 are provided with a hand pusher bar 66 by means of which the die blades may be manually shifted into registry with the recesses 19-19 against the restraining influence of the spring 63, in which position the die blades 5656 will be located respectively within the triangular recesses l919 and between the base plate 14 and its superimposed shoes 21-21.

The carriage 58 is provided at its inner end With a bumper block 67 adapted to abut against a fixed bumper 68 on the machine to limit the inward movement of the die blade assembly. In addition, the carriage 58 is provided with means for actuating switch 49 in the form of a rod 69 terminally rigidly secured thereto and disposed with the free end portion thereof for registry with the actuating button 54 of switch 49 when the carriage 58 is positioned for accommodation of the die blades 5656 within their respective recesses 1919.

For turning the article, e. g., a collar 70, from its initial right-side-in sewed condition into its final right-sideout condition preliminarily to shaping and pressing the same, the apparatus includes two sets of turning points, each pair of which includes a relatively fixed forwardly projecting turning point 71 and a relatively shiftable turning point 72. The turning points 71 and 72 of each pair are in axial alinement and the shiftable points 7272 are adapted to be moved into point engaging position relatively to the fixed points 71-71, respectively. The shiftable points 7272 are suitably supported upon a carriage 73 for rectilinear movement of these points along parallel lines axially coincident with the axis of the fixed points 7171, the carriage 73 being normally held in its retracted position at the front of the apparatus by a coiled tension spring 74.

A cable 76 passing over a sheave 77 connects the inner end of the carriage 73 to the upper end of an arm 78 of a bell crank lever suitably journalled upon a shaft 79, the opposite arm 81 of this lever being provided at its free end with a foot actuated pedal 82. Upon depressing the pedal 82, the carriage 73 will be drawn inwardly against the restraint of the spring 74 and will present the pointed ends of the turning points 7272 in contact with the similarly pointed ends of the fixed turning points 71-7 1. Suitable stops 8383 may be provided to limit the travel of the movable points 7272.

For most efficient and rapid operation of the apparatus as hereinbefore described, the preferred practice is to use the right hand pair of points 71 and 72 to fit the left hand corner of a collar upon the right hand die blade 56 while the latter is in its outer or retracted position. Thereafter the operator, by pushing on the hand bar 66, shifts the die blade with the collar fitted thereon into its pressing recess 21. During the latter part of this shift ing movement the free end portion of rod 69 engages the actuating button 54 of switch 49, thus closing the electric circuit and energizing the electro-magnetic solenoid unit 44. As a consequence, the plunger 43 of the solenoid unit 44 moves downwardly and causes the oscillatable lever 37 to pivot about its support 38, the outer end portion thereof following plunger 43 and the inner end portion thereof being moved in the opposite direction for exerting a force on arm 26 of yoke 20 through the intervention of the turnbuckle link 33. This force rocks yoke 20 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, and, consequently, pressing shoes 21-21 are moved from nonpressing to pressing position against the restraining force of the tension spring 25.

It is important to note in this connection that the degree of clockwise rocking movement of yoke 20 is selectively controlled by adjustment of a threaded member 84 suitably mounted in a fixed support, while rocking movement thereof in the opposite direction is limited by adjustment of a threaded stop member 86 carried by the arm 26. Of course, the effective length of turnbuckle 33 is selectively adjustable for coaction with members 84 and 86 to determine the permissible stroke and shifting movement of plunger 43. Immediately after the die blade with the collar fitted thereon has been fully shifted into its pressing recess 19, the operator releases the hand bar 66 and the die blade is thereupon withdrawn from said recess by the action of the tension spring 63. The timing is such that the pressing shoes 2121 are positioned to press lightly on the collar While the die blade is being withdrawn, thereby permitting the blade to be withdrawn from its recess 19 and from the collar without disturbing the position of the collar between the base plate 14 and the pressing shoe 21. After complete removal of the die blade from the collar, full pressure will be automatically applied and maintained until the collar is completely shaped and pressed under the heat and pressure applied by the coacting base plate 14 and its overlying shoe, the period of time during which pressure is applied being determined by the timer relay 48. When the selected period of time has expired, the timer relay acts to break the electric circuit and the electro-magnetic solenoid unit 44 is de-energized, thus permitting the pressing shoes 2121 to be moved from pressing to nonpressing position through the intervention of yoke 24 and the tension spring 25. It will be understood, of course, that during all of the operation above described, the base plate 14 and the shoe 22 will have been heated by the underlying electrical heating units to a suitable predetermined pressing temperature. Having completed the pressing of the left-hand portion of the collar as just described, said portion is then removed from the pressing head and thereupon the same operations are performed upon the righthand portion of the collar through use of the left-hand set of turning points, the left-hand die blade and the lefthand side of the pressing head.

In the operation of the apparatus just described, the solenoid operates when energized to shift the presser shoes 2121 into pressing position, the shoes being held in such position so long as the solenoid remains energized. The energization of the solenoid is effected, of course, immediately upon actuation of the microswitch contact button 54 when the latter is engaged by the rod 69 extending from the supporting carriage for the die blades 56-56. At the instant of engagement of the contact button 54 by the rod 69, the operator releases the die blade carriage for retraction thereof by the tension spring 63 into its inoperative position, i. e., free of the pressing shoes and of the article positioned beneath said shoes. The tension of the spring 63 is such as to completely withdraw the die blades from beneath the pressing shoes during the interval of time required for the shoes to be pressed firmly into pressing contact with the article which had been placed in position by the die blade. Thereupon, by operation of the timer relay, the solenoid remains energized to hold the shoes 21-21 in firm pressing position for as long as is necessary to satisfactorily press the article of work to shape, the pressing period being, of course, predetermined in advance and the timer relay set accordingly. At the end of the pressing period, the timer relay operates automatically to open the solenoid circuit and so effect deenergization of the solenoid to thereby permit the pressing shoes to be lifted from the work under the influence of the spring 25.

It should be apparent now that simplified means have been provided for automatically moving the pressing shoes to pressing position and applying heat and pressure to the article to be shaped and pressed, and that such means afiords a machine which is less costly to manufacture and easier to operate since the operator is relieved of the necessity for manipulating more than one pedal with his feet. It will be understood also that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit of the invention, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In an apparatus for shaping and pressing collars and like articles, a presser head comprising a fixed base member, and a relatively movable presser member mounted in superposed spaced relation thereto, a die member adapted for receiving and shaping a collar to be pressed, means mounting said die member for planar movement to position the collar between said base and presser members and for withdrawal of the die member therefrom, an electric switch positioned to be closed by said die member mounting means at the instant when said die member reaches its final position between said base and presser members, and means connected in electric circuit with said switch and responsive to the closing thereof to move said presser member into a position whereby it lightly engages the collar before said die member is withdrawn, and to further move said presser member into firm engagement with the collar for a selected period of time after said die member is withdrawn.

2. In an apparatus for shaping and pressing collars and like articles, a presser head comprising a fixed base member, a rockable member, a presser member carried by the latter and positioned in superposed spaced relation to said base member, means biasing said rockable member so as to move said presser head away from said base member, and means for limiting the angular movement of said rockable member, a die member adapted for receiving and shaping a collar to be pressed, means mounting said die member for planar movement to position the collar between said base and presser members and for withdrawal of the die member therefrom, an electric switch positioned to be closed by said die member mounting means at the instant when said die member reaches its final position between said base and presser members, and means connected in electric circuit with said switch and responsive to the closing thereof to move said presser member against the force of said biasing means into a position whereby it lightly engages the collar before said die member is withdrawn, and to further move said presser member against the force of said biasing means into firm engagement with the collar for a selected period of time after said die member is withdrawn.

3. In an apparatus for shaping and pressing collars and like articles, a presser head comprising a fixed base member, and a relatively movable presser member mounted in superposed spaced relation thereto, a die member adapted for receiving and shaping a collar to be pressed, means mounting said die member for planar movement to position the collar between said base and presser members and for withdrawal of the die member therefrom, an electric switch positioned to be closed by said die member mounting means at the instant when said die member reaches its final position between said base and presser members, electro-magnetic solenoid means, and a timer relay, said electric switch, solenoid means and timer relay being connected in electric circuit, said solenoid means being adapted upon energization thereof when said electric switch is closed to move said presser member into a position whereby it lightly engages the collar before said die member is withdrawn and to further move said presser member into firm engagement with the collar after said die member is withdrawn, and said timer relay being operative to open said electric switch after a predetermined period of time during which said presser head remains in firm engagement with the co ar.

4. In an apparatus for shaping and pressing collars and like articles, a presser head comprising a fixed base member, and a relatively movable presser member mounted in superposed spaced relation thereto, a die member adapted for receiving and shaping a collar to be pressed, a member axially shiftable to facilitate turning the collar over said die member foot actuated means for axially shifting said collar turning member, hand actuated means mounting said die member for planar movement to position the collar between said base and presser members and for withdrawal of the die member therefrom, an electric switch positioned to be closed by said die member mounting means at the instant when said die member reaches its final position between said base and presser members, and means connected in electric circuit with said switch and responsive to the closing thereof to move said presser member into a position whereby it lightly engages the collar before said die member is withdrawn and to further move said presser member into firm engagement with the collar for a selected period of time after said die member is withdrawn.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,303,247 Braley May 13, 1919 2,283,548 Fischer May 19, 1942 2,553,194 Hovell May 15, 1951 

